The Sharks are in Columbus, I’m in Boston and here’s the full explanation why

A direct flight from San Francisco to the capital of Massachusetts. No stop in Columbus where the Sharks play the Blue Jackets in two hours. For the first time since becoming the beat guy, I’m missing a regular season or playoff game.

The personal iron man streak ends at 149 games.

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And all because a month ago I underestimated how quickly Claude Lemieux would make it back to the NHL. My bad. Because the idea was this: Instead of going to Columbus, head to Boston, where the Sharks play Tuesday, then drive to Providence where the Worcester Sharks play this weekend. We only had been able to cover Lemieux’s comeback attempt long distance, and journalistically, it made perfect sense.

“You know,” the boss said when we made this decision back in early January, “this means the Sharks will call him up before February 8.”

I scoffed.

Yes, we could have rebooked my flights when Lemieux was called up. I did look into it. “Extremely cost prohibitive” is the best phrase to explain the reason that didn’t happen. So it turns out I took a calculated risk – and lost.

Now, full confession: The streak was going to end in two weeks anyway. The daughter of some close friends is getting married Feb. 21 and, with the boss’s blessing, I was going to skip the Atlanta game in order to attend. Let’s just say that devoted as I am to covering the Sharks, I wanted to get just a little more balance in my life between September and whenever – April? May? June?

The Merc was lucky enough to get Aaron Portzline, the Columbus Dispatch’s primary writer on the Blue Jackets’ beat to do double duty and he’ll crank out two stories today, one for his paper, one for the San Jose readership. West Coast deadlines should allow him to tailor each story to the local audience.

I intended to post this before now, by the way. But Friday was a furlough day and I’ve learned that the rules/laws are pretty strict: Nothing work-related can occur on that day. Really. Blogging included.

Anyway, that’s the situation. I’ll get back to hockey in the next post. And, as always, thanks for keeping the conversation going without me.

******Slingbox and TiVo willing, I will be able to watch the Sharks-Columbus game tonight. Bless you, technology.

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******The Sharks have Sunday off, so it may be awhile before I’m back (or not, depending on what’s happening and what information I can pick up long distance).

David Pollak

David Pollak has been following the NHL forever and at the Mercury News as an editor or reporter since 1987. For almost a decade he wrote about the Sharks as the paper's Fan in the Stands before joining the sports department in 2001. He became the Sharks beat writer before the 2007-08 season and began this blog at that time. You can also follow him on Twitter at @PollakOnSharks.

I think you misunderstood the whole point of the article. The goal is explained well from the “About Me” snippet.

“In hockey, goalies get all the credit. But recent analysis shows that more often than not it is the team that determines the ‘tender’s success, not the other way around. This recreational goalie identifies goalies who receive the credit that should be going to the teams in front of them. The site is named after Brodeur because he is the best example of this.”

What he doesn’t say which is a true statement and equal, It is more often than not the TEAM that determines the ‘Tenders’ failures” at the NHL level anyway.

Many of you “here” think that Nabby get’s support and full credit for wins and none for the loss from “the likes” of me. It can’t be farther from the truth. If any understand my frames of reference, Nabby does not get more credit than he deserves for wins unless he actually has to steal a game. The Contrarian makes the point that Nabby might not be as good as people think he is because its the team in front of him — and that is the way it really is for nearly all goalies anyway. Well, using EVERYTHING he includes in logic and analysis, is true in the inverse. That means Nabby is also not as bad as “you all” say he is in a loss.

The concept applies to goalies that are NOT on winning teams. If the team in front does not have an aptitude for defense, then the goalie will look worse than he/she should.

So, IMO, the article exposes a couple things. There seems to be a tendancy that those that think we are weak on D are in the same camp that Nabby gets too much credit. Whether that has any truth or not, the stats show, to this day, the Sharks have a very good defense. The Contrarian also explained, using stats, that the Sharks clearly don’t have a weak Defense. This has been something I maintain, no? The real exposure, IMO, is those that bash Nabby as the biggest reason for a loss, but give NONE or very little credit for a win.

GP

jrguru

Y,

So now its Nabokov’s fault that the team can’t score on “backups or first time NHL’ers”? Regardless of when or how many shots he faced, Nabby still only gave up 2 goals in regulation. How is he responsible for the team not scoring the tying goal till late in the 3rd? Tired? Give me a break. They have played 4 games in something like 16 or 18 days. They are professionals and are in better condition than you give them credit for. All this talk about stealing games is fine, but when the goaltender gives up only 2 goals, he generally is doing his job. To expect him to give up less than 2 goals a game is unrealistic.

goaliepuke

jrguru, thanks. I’m happy that decorumn (spelling?) is recognized.

GP

y

GP, when the Sharks win, and play well, they put up huge #’s of shots, and aloow very few shots. I would expect any average goalie in the league to get a win when facing a low shot total with great D in front of him.

jrguru

Y re: #101,

All this is true. However, the low shot totals are meaningless if the chances given up are like the 3 in the 1st period last night. Most teams capitalize on those types of opportunities, especially if they know they may not get too many of them. And great D shouldn’t be giving up those types of chances. While the D might be considered great (injuries not withstanding), they haven’t been showing it as of late.

goaliepuke

Y, OK, so I don’t understand you’re point. There may be relevence, but what? Let’s say Nabby is an avg GT. Now, how many games have the Sharks won? Those stats are pretty much along the lines of your #101 statement. I’m lost on where your complaint is coming from?

As an exercise, maybe you can look up haw many games the Sharks have won when being outshot. Maybe Nabby isn’t so avg?

y

Jr–Nabby gave up 2 in regulation-true. But he gave up the first 2 of only 17 total, while some AHL goalie made 30 for the win. 17 shots dude, 17

Jeff

Maybe we have are slumping right now because Joe-Patty-Seto only have 6 combined points over the last 5 games? Nabby has a 2.00 GAA and .92 SV% over that time but somehow he is the reason we are losing? I agree he has made some questionable decisions, but our big guys need to step it up a little bit as well. Yeah last nights loss was tough, but its the next 5 games that will tell us were this team is heading.

Jeff

Maybe we are slumping*** sorry, I really wish there was a way to go back and edit posts…

goaliepuke

Y, why is it when you have a complaint about a particular goal in a win you use a microscope to isolate that goal you didn’t like. But in a loss, the microscope is broken?

Did ANYONE like those 1st two goals against? If I were mean, I’d say you did because you think it proves your point. But, I don’t really think that. I KNOW you want the team to win. I do think there are a few people that did like those goals against. Just not you — so please understand that.

Do you NOT think its an issue that Nabby faced only his second shot, a breakaway by a top player with skill, 10 MINUTES into the game.

jrguru

Again y, you completely miss the point. You just can’t seem grasp the quality vs. quantity concept. Yes the AHL goalie made 30 saves, but do you really believe he was the difference? With the exception of the save he made on Thornton in the overtime, he didn’t have to make a tough save. Everything was from the perimeter or bad angles, no rebounds or deflections. Any time the Sharks did get a good chance, it was blocked. Maybe the question you should be asking is: How is it that the Sharks talented, high powered offense keeps getting shut down by no-name goaltenders?

Here is something you might want to think about; Hockey is a great sport. You should really try to watch the whole game instead of just focusing on the guy in the funny equipment and constantly criticizing him every time a goal is scored.

Sharks247

Nabby’s not as consistant or reliable as he was last year which is frustrating, and that’s all I’m going to say about that.

While I am suprised that the boys didn’t do more retaliation for the hits on Joe and Pavs, there were certainly some big hits being doled out by the Sharks. However, I disagree with Ivano & Eddie and will defend Shelley. I know that Ivano (#20) and Eddie (#57) don’t think much of Shelley, but I think otherwise. Parker was hurt most of his tenure with the Sharks so he was only effective for the first year. After Parker was traded, we really didn’t have anyone else and if there was one (enforcer), I guess I didn’t realize it. At least Shelley skates – not like Marleau – but he skates nonetheless. If ALL Shelley did was enforce, he’d be a waste of space.

Earlier this year, there were times where Shelley’s efforts sparks the team to play better; when he let it fly, the team responded. Shelley may not be the fastest or best skater on the team, but when was the last time a goal was scored because he turned the puck over? Sure, he doesn’t get more than 7 minutes of ice time, but when he’s there, he’s contributing. He’s got 3 assists and a game winning goal this season. Shelley is a smart enforcer. By picking his time and place to throw down it keeps the other teams guessing as to whether he’s there to skate or to fight.

I agree Shelley’s minutes may be reduced during the playoffs, but I noticed that (for now) Coach TM gives Shelley and Lemieux about the same TOI.

Like everyone else, I’m concerned with the Sharks’ lackluster play. Seems these last three games, they come on during the 3rd period, but it’s not 60 minutes of play. We’ll not get to the Cup playing like this. The Sharks and coaching staff know that.

Three games in February does not, a playoffs make. (Sheakesperiean for “relax, it’s the begining of February – not the playoffs”.) HOWEVER, the Sharks need to knock the rust off (due to the long ASG layoff), start kicking @ss again, and get back to spoiling their fans.

(Dude, it’s a heck’a lot easier to blog when the team is winning. 🙂 )

DP – thanks for all you do. Including feeding us the manna that makes this board (no matter how voracious) the best there is.

Go Sharks!

Sharks247

Hey Ivano – I was wrong in my last post. Dallas won – like by a lot. My Bad. I’ll pay more attention – dyslexic at times. But what I was surprised about was the discussion by commentators about dumping Turco.

y

GP-you said:
“Do you NOT think its an issue that Nabby faced only his second shot, a breakaway by a top player with skill, 10 MINUTES into the game.”

This is my point exactly, and you don’t need a microscope to see it. It’s a breakaway. He can’t save just about any breakaway. Not in a shootout, or by a top player, or an average one. It’s early in the game! Make that F***ing save to keep your team in it!
And, the first shot he faced went over his glove because he flopped down again.

It’s time to give him a break, and let Boosh play vs. Boston. Thats my opinion, llike it or not.

boilerbink

GP: The point is that the way the Sharks are set up and with the talent level, Nabby USUALLY doesn’t have to “steal” a game. Conversely , almost every middle of the pack team that has beaten us was due to strong Goalie showings. Ironically, most have been kids, rookies, call-ups whatever. The Ranger game and ……I’m blank, maybe one of the recent shutouts nabby was the difference . In looking at his stats on NHL.com, Nabby was 24th out of 30 in save % and upper third in GAA. Hardly extraordinary, but very ordinary and when all the folks who ask “Hey BB. who should we get instead of Nabokov”? I’d say go to NHL.com , check out Save % leaders and take your pick from the top 15. It’s worth a try , IF IF IF IF we have another playoff failure, but we’re not there yet. !! WHY wouldn’t we if we go out early again. It would make no sense.

oh and JEFF: BTW, are you saying that anyone who differs from your opinion about Nabby is “mentally ill” . Wow. Will everyone STOP the “Nabby hater” nomenclature!!. We’re Sharks fans just like you , that have a differing view about the playoff or “big” game merits of our goalie. get over it……

boilerbink

GP” Also, I do agree with you about the article and the “team” concept . I believe alot of goalies could thrive in the regular season with the Sharks, but that it takes a different kind of goalie to thrive in the pressure and intensity (not too mention stepped up competition) in the playoffs. Nabby is getting too much blame right now, the team has looked horrible. Now , obviously that gives him a chance to shine and steal one , but lately that hasn’t happened. The WHOLE team looks flat, including Nabs…
Obviously, Boosh has to get some starts out east. Probably not Tuesday and McC loves his redemption angles, but certainly Pitts and maybe a few more in between, god let’s hope so….

eddie

#109 247,

Your dead wrong about Shelley. Maybe when we got Shelley he was better then Parker right then (and thats a huge maybe). But claiming Shelley is a good enforcer is a total laugh. He is in the same class as Parros, Carcillo, , Ott or Ivanans? Those are just the enforcer in our division and Shelley is worse then all of them. The great pretender (Shelley) get his A** beat everytime he fights, and basically shys away from hitting people.

As for his skating ability, geez I can skate as well as Shelley. If you mean being able to skate up and down the rink in 5 minutes then you have Shelley. The Guy offers nothing to the team, he cannot score (Parker could score), he’s lousy on defense, he’s slow skating, and a lousy fighter.

The Pretender has scored what 2 goals as a player for the Sharks in well over 100 games. Geez Parker averaged 3 or 4 per year. Parker was a REAL enforcer who would go over the boards after players and defended his own players when they got cheap shotted. The prentender does nothing…….. He needs to go for us to win the cup, otherwise prepare for what you are seeing now alot of Sharks players getting run, and subject to injury with nothing happening back to that player. The Pretender is a bum.

eddie

#114 that is he is NOT in the Class

eddie

Not to beat a dead horse, okay well i’ll just fight the pretender. The pretender could not hold Jeff Odgers Jock. My guess is Odgers could come in today and still kick the pretender all around the rink. The pretender regularly gets schooled by real enforcers.

Tano

Why dont we just all accept that Nabby is an average goaltender and there is nothing wrong with that. Detroit won cups with average goaltenders in net.
Nabby can be great in some games, or in part of some games, but IMO he cannot be counted to be a solid goaltender game after game after game.
With this in mind, you adjust your play to match having an average goaltender in net, which means dont take too many risks in the neutral zone or forward zone with you Dmen, cause your goaltender may not be able to stop the breakaway.

Tano

One thing that is getting old as of late, is to be beaten by teams that are far behind in the standings, do not have a full roster in place due to injuries, and put unproven goaltenders to play the Sharks.
Just an observation that this is getting old, no criticism to anybody, anywhere, anyhow….

Sharks247

#114/115/116

Ivanans is a -7 and Carcello is a -11. So what exactly do they do for their team? Fight you say? So for all the good may do, they’re in the minus.

I’ll give you that Parros (+9) and Ott (+1) are holding their own. (Ott just scored an empty net for his 11th goal.)

I’m not sure what games you’ve been watching, but Shelley HAS come in and put the hurt on the opposition when they’ve hit one of ours. There are intangebles that players add to the game can’t be measured. I like and respect what Shelley (even at a -3) brings to the ice.

And I hazard to guess that Jeff Ogers would love to come out of retirement just to have some guy hold his jock strap for him – NOT! Go ahead and do the one-on-one thing with Shelley. Sell tickets and pack a lunch.

Go Shelley! Go Sharks!

eddie

The plus/minus stats are the most overated stats in all of the NHL, when you provided that too me that showed me all I needed to know about your hockey knowledge. Let’s remember an individual gets a =/- not based on individual performance but on the performance of his follow linemates. If Error makes a bad pass that leads to a goal and Joe is on the ICE Joe gets a minus the same as Error. If you look even deeper you will see that most good enforcers were or are a minus player.

The point of an enforcer is two fold. On one hand you want your opponent to know that they cannot take liabilities with your best players without fear of repercussion, and 2. You want them to actually have to consider and game plan for you to some extent. In otherwords at least think about it. Trust me know one thinks about Shelley one bit.

What you is that the Jarett Stoll and the Jordan Tootoo and the Steve Otts of this world know that if they hit a Milan Michalek or a Joe Thornton with a hard hit, or with a cheap shot that there will be a payback. But with Shelley there isn’t. Remember the Dallas series last year when Michalek got hurt and Shelley said something to Ott like I’ll get your something, and to this day he still has done nothing.

The funny thing is that in San Jose Shelley is an icon, because people see him as “nice guy” who is “really tough on the ice”. Yet were Shelley in a traditional hockey location where the writers actual know what a hockey puck actually is Shelley would be laughed at as an enforcer. You should see what they wrote about him in Calgary and Vancouver. But here in the Bay Area, the great pretender can get away with it.

It’s not DP, or a beat writers job to criticize a player or members of the team he covers, its the columinists in those papers that do that. But we all know that the Mercy news is more concerned with covering things like the Sap open and womens badminton, then to actually cover the Sharks. But thats another story althogether. DP does a great job bringing us News updates so I am in no way critical of him.

In a 2008 poll on an NHL fighting Website, Shelley was ranked the 16th best enforcer in the NHL. Since that time he has gone way down. AT ONE TIME SHELLEY was a decent enforcer but no more.

You can root for PRETENDER all you want, but he’s still the weakest enforcer in the league, and players like Parros and Ott just laugh at him. Its easy to fool a Sharks fan though because most of the fans this year are bandwagon fans anyway.

eddie

Notice when the going gets rough or physical, your guy Shelley backs away like a coward. He won’t fight or stick up for his teammates. Oh yea he might take on a lightweight occassionally but a Parros or Ott on occassion but only if he wants to get his A kicked. I could give you a great link to some real hockey websites to show you what I mean, but youll never get it. You’ll be the one wearing the Shelley jersey to the game, the one us fans are laughing at because it shows what you really know about the roll of enforcer.

Watch Shelley play is 6 minutes a game against Boston, and Pittsburgh, wanna bet Shelley wants no part of Chara (no part), want to bet Shelley tries to take on a lightweight against Boston. Wanna bet that Shelley wants no part of Brook Orpik when we play in Pittsburgh, and Orpik is basically a light weight at that.

The pretender is just that a pretender a fraud.

y

With a post like that Eddie = GP Jr. 🙂

goaliepuke

“Parros, Carcillo, , Ott or Ivanans”

Eddie, the only enforcer you list is Parros. Ivanans, he is still trying to figure out what he is. You’re letting his size fool you.

Guys like Carcillo and Ott, and the infamous Avery exist because of the Instigator rule.

Discussing your ideas of Jody’s status as an enforcer/fighter/coward, isn’t worthy of discussion when you lump Carcillo in with Brashier, Parros and Shelley.

Now, you mentioned Scott Parker. I liked him a lot as a player and an enforcer. He could do both well enough. I would agree that he is a better pure fighter than Shelley is. So what. Shelley is a much better all-around hockey player hands down. Unfortunately, you are probably letting Jody’s less than smooth skating style influence your opinion of his effectiveness on the ice as a 4th line forechecking wing.

GP

y

Brant..Mayers!

goaliepuke

Y, I agree that Boucher needs to play a few more games. Obviously not for the same reasons you do however.

You said you didn’t need a microscope, but you insist on “focusing” on those 2 goals. Still isolation. Those chances, the player had on those goals, probably go in at anytime of the game. They were that good of a chance where the shooter had more options and Nabby needs to make saves of the year. I would say, he has a better chance if those chances happen later after he into the flow of the game.

Now, if Nabby has an issue getting into the game at the beginning, for whatever reason, he KNOWS about it and is working on it. It’s fixable. I don’t think it’s an issue at all in the playoffs. I’d bet we’ll differ there again eh?

goaliepuke

Brant..Mayers!, yes. Maybe the best fighter the Sharks have ever had. Brutal hockey player though.

One reason he fought well was he played in the time that players were allowed to shed jersey and equipment. I’d even estimate that some of his displays were used in the managers meeting to change the rules.

GP

larry

Has everyone forgotten Link Gaetz?

goaliepuke

“Nabby is getting too much blame right now, the team has looked horrible. Now , obviously that gives him a chance to shine and steal one , but lately that hasn’t happened. The WHOLE team looks flat, including Nabs…”

BB,

I’ll disagree with a couple things. I think there have been a couple detailed areas the Sharks need to button up a bit. But, I don’t think they’ve looked horrible. They didn’t skate vs the Hawks. They stopped being physical vs the ‘Canes, and they didn’t really intimidate the BJs enough to break down their defense. In all 3 games, while they did PP goals, they didn’t score at the critical moment and sever the jugular.

All those are details that are part of the process. And, when I couple players aren’t quite there, not injuries, the rest of the team should be expected to pick him/them up. Sometimes that doesn’t happen either. But, if they look flat, it relative to the 1st half maybe. I think they are generally controlling the games.

The mistakes they’ve made, we’ll, yes, they have been costly. We could go through tape (probably digital) and see similar or worse mistakes that didn’t end up in our net.

I do agree that Nabby has had a chance to shine recently, but it isn’t easy when your team is playing at the other end of the ice the majority of the game.

Ivano

How much more cyber space will be wasted on this board trying to beat the dead horse about Nabokov? Do we really have to post 100 messages discussing the same stupid topic after each loss?

Those of you who don’t like him should ask yourself a question what will it cost us to get a better GK? And who is a better GK in this league that will be available for trade?

I know, Joslin Tibeau! Won’t even cost us a trade ’cause he’s not even playing right now. Eh?

Ivano

GP
If we brought up Roenick and Claude, let’s let the project continue. Why don’t we offer Roy a contract? Or better yet, Irbe or even Tretiak himself.

What would that be like for Nabby to a be a back up to his idol?

y

Tretiak at 60 is probably better than Nabby now…Ok, just kiddin’

JRK

Just like there’s no crying in baseball, there’s no fighting in hockey! What I see 95% is ballroom dancing, lots of hugging and tugging, slapping and a takedown with the guy on top getting the cheers. None of these millionaires would want to break a bone in their hand with a closed fist, so it ends up ‘dancing with the stars’ for fan entertainment. The real tough guys and enforcers do it legally with brutal checking. Ex Shark, Marchment got a dirty rap IMO for being a dirty player, but his open ice checking was more of an enforcement than some 4th line goon dropping his gloves at the face off. Every opposing player kept one eye looking for the whereabouts of Marchment. Except for Murray and Clowe (and now the Claude), I don’t see the Sharks as a very tough, physical team despite their size.

SacramentoBen

I guess I’m the only one who works on the weekend….To recap I learned that Nabby sucks, still….Shelley is a pretender….and Ott and Carcillo are “enforcers”. Hmmm can’t say I missed much.

goaliepuke

LOL, SacBen…

goaliepuke

He he, I just had to get it to #136 for this thread….

Sharkalchemy

ya, i agree with JRK here at 134 about Clowe, Murray and Lemieux playing big, while much of the rest of the team is big but doesn’t always play it, though JR certainly does when he’s in there.

we all know what its going to come down to:

someone is gonna try to punk up the Sharks in the playoffs and how will they respond? who friggin knows right now, but sometimes you see some not so good signs in these games.

i think we need more scoring and who knows if either JR or Mitchell can come back all the way. They may need to get a good 3rd line center and push Goc down to the 4th line to have those lines complement the other two better.

Beerslayer

I know this goalie topic has been pretty much beaten to death but I just want to kick it one more time before I pass out for the evening…

I truly do not understand something. We have one of the best “backup” goaltenders in the league in Boucher. He could still probably be a starter on many teams in the NHL. He has clearly demonstrated an ability to steal a game or three while Nabby was out earlier in the season. He is not old or decrepit and does not need the extra rest.

So why on earth is he not getting any starts? Regardless of how well or poorly Nabokov has been playing (and he certainly has not been Vezina-worthy in the net in the last couple of months), we are letting an excellent “backup” goaltender go to waste, while our “primary” goaltender struggles.

I just don’t get it.

No question in my mind that Nabby is an above-average (if not elite) goaltender, but he is clearly (IMHO) struggling a bit right now. This “let him play himself out of the slump” mentality is likely costing us games. And if his ego can’t handle not playing every game, he’s in the wrong profession. Maybe he could benefit from watching a few games from the press-box (or, rather, from the bench).

i agree with beerslayer. i think putting in boosh for a game or two wouldnt hurt anyhting. maybe just putting in the backup goalie would force the defense to play a little tighter, a little tougher, and thus keeping more pucks from getting to the goal tender.

and sactoben, from now on im not gunna waste time reading all the mindless over-analization that comes from some of the hardcore people here, im just gunna wait for your overview of the whole blog, to explain to me what people are saying. thanks 😉

NorthBay Sharkie

Got a chuckle from the description of Ott as an enforcer. More often than not, he turtles. Agitator-yes. Enforcer-no.

Evilducks

I’m not sure why people think the Sharks didn’t play big against Columbus, maybe they were watching a different game than I was. About 15 seconds in I knew exactly what kind of game it was going to be, a hit fest. Players weren’t going for pucks, they were taking every opportunity to line guys up and smash them against the glass as hard as they could, on both sides.

Interesting stats for people who think Lemieux, Murray and Clowe are the only people ‘playing big’.

Total hits for the night: 42 vs. Columbus with 36. I mean, only 42 hits? What a bunch of pansies…

Also, Clowe and Shelley threw down. Clowe’s was a hugging match, but I thought Shelley won his fight. He landed a lot more clean punches and did very well at the ‘grab the jersey and jab’ tactic. Shame he lost his footing. I would have agreed with the Pretender aspect last year, but he’s been pretty decent at fighting this year.

Sharks controlled the game, played more physical, they just had to play from behind because Nabby missed some critical saves on some huge chances handed to Columbus by the Defense. Nabby could have been better, the Defense could have been light years better.

I do have a question though on Nabby. People complain his 5 hole is a problem, but then complain he goes down too early. How can you be both? Think maybe he’s going down early because he knows his 5 hole has been an issue? Put Boucher in already, Nabby is doing too much work this year when he doesn’t need to. I love Nabby, but even Boston puts in Fernandez, and look how well Thomas is playing.

SactoShark

#145, Evilducks:

I totally agree with your assessment of the Columbus game. The only thing I’d add is that there’s this reoccurring problem with the Sharks failing to break out from their own zone. Last year, especially in the playoffs, it took them like 6 passes to break out. That leaves a lot of room for turnovers.

At the start of the year, they were a machine… dig it out of the corner, pass to the slot, skate it out.

Ivano

There is a simple answer to that and it lies in the definition of word “struggles”. What you consider Nabokov struggling I do not, and I think McLellan does not either. I’m no hockey expert, but McLellan is. It may also has something to do with how Boucher performs in practice. None of us know how he looks in practice compares to Nabokov, but coaches do.

SacramentoBen

Has anyone heard what injury caused Murray to miss the 2nd and 3rd periods against the ‘Canes? Not that he’s ever flying around but I thought he was a little more sluggish than normal in Ohio.

y

Ivano, your last post suggests that Nabokov is a great practice goalie. I’ll take a gamer, thanks.

Evilducks

I think a lot of the problem with the break out is a symptom of being down by two goals and teams just trying to hang on for the rest of the night. This is what we did last year, get a couple early breaks and sink into a trap to disrupt everything. If we score first or at least don’t fall down 2 goals they don’t try and trap us and we have a much cleaner breakout game.

Traps were designed to break up the type of zone entry we want to do and they work on pretty much everybody if done right. That’s why we’ve been playing dump and chase a lot lately. If the D would stop making bonehead plays and Nabby comes up with a clutch save here or there it would be a different game all around. I’m honestly more annoyed with the D than I am with Nabby, but both could be playing a lot better. The D has been banged up and it is February, so lets not get crazy about how bad we’re doing. That is the root cause I think though.